David Chadwick has strongly condemned proposals that would extend waiting times for patients in Powys receiving treatment in English hospitals, under Powys Teaching Health Board.

The issue was raised yesterday by Mr Chadwick with Dame Nia Griffith, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, during a Welsh Affairs Select Committee session focused on the Wales Office.

The Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP describes the proposals as "utterly unacceptable," arguing that they undermine both the Welsh and UK Government's commitments to reducing NHS waiting times. He warns that they may also violate the Statement of Values governing cross-border healthcare between Wales and England.

Under the proposed changes, Powys Teaching Health Board is considering extending waiting times for Powys patients who seek elective procedures and outpatient appointments in Shropshire and Herefordshire. This cost-cutting measure would result in Welsh patients waiting longer for treatment in English hospitals compared to their English counterparts.

Following a meeting last Friday, the health board confirmed that “no final decision” had been made on the proposal and that further work needed to be undertaken.

During the Welsh Affairs Select Committee session, Mr Chadwick pointed out the contradiction with Labour Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens’ pledge from September, which promised to prioritise Welsh patients treated in England to reduce the soaring Welsh waiting times - currently at a record 800,000 patients.

Dame Nia Griffith did not directly address the concerns raised about the extended waiting times for Powys patients, nor would she commit to providing clear details on how English hospitals would be used to alleviate Welsh waiting lists.

“It is about looking at best practice on both sides of the border, and what are the lessons that we can learn” she said.

“As he [Mr Chadwick] quite rightly points out, there is absolutely the case for... ensuring that there are no discrepancies, as he describes, between what can be accessed on one side of the border and the other, by patients who are attending the same GP surgery.”

Commenting after the debate, Mr Chadwick said: “It is utterly unacceptable that Powys patients could be forced to wait longer in hospitals in Herefordshire and Shropshire than patients from England.

“This situation is a direct contradiction to what the Welsh Secretary has previously promised.

“Residents in Powys already feel neglected, as we do not have a general hospital of our own, services are few and far between and we have already faced huge cuts such as the recent changes to our Minor Injuries Units.

“I will not stand by while patients are artificially forced to wait longer for treatment due to mismanaged accounting rules imposed by the Welsh Government and will be opposing these proposals all the way.”